Wrench



(No Model.) I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. C. L. 8'6 H. P PRAEG'ER.

I Wrench.

No 237,594. Patented Feb; 8, I881.

Wnmzssns! ATTORNEYS.

Mi-Model.) r H 2 Sheets-Sheet 0. L-.& H. P. PRAEGER] Wrench.

I Nth-237,594. Patented Feb. 8,188I.

WITNESSES: IN OR wm zbfi m ATTORNEYS.

NUNTITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARL L. PBAEGEB, or PHILADELPHIA, AND HUBERT F. PRAEGER, OF SOUTHBETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

WRENCH.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 237,594, dated February8, 1881.

' Application filed December 8,1880. (N model.)

- Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia, and

State of Pennsylvania, and HUBERT F. PRAE- GER, of South Bethlehem, inthe county of Northampton and Stateof Pennsylvania, have invented a newand Improved Wrench, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple and compactself-adjusting wrench for bolts, nuts, 860.

The invention consists of a curved handle, one end of which serves as alower-jaw, and is socketed and chambered to receive the shank andoperating mechanism of the upper jaw;-

and it consists, further, of a spring, slotted wedge, and lever arrangedin the chamber of the lower jaw, whereby the .upper slidingjaw isadjusted and held.

Our invention further consists in attaching a bell-lever and spring tothe upper part of said shank, in the manner and for the purposehereinafter described.

Figure l is a perspective view of the wrench. Fig. 2 is apartly-sectional side elevation of a modification of the same. Fig. 3 isasectional plan view on line as m, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a perspective viewof the wedge applied in the modification. Fig. 5 is a partly-sectionalside elevation of another modification of the wrench. Fig. 6 is asectional plan view of the same on line y 3 Fig. 5, looking upward. Fig.-7 is a sectional view of the same on line y 3 Fig. 5, looking upward.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

In the drawings, A represents the curved handle of the wrench, one endof which forms the horizontal lower jaw, B. This jaw B is socketed andchambered, as shown at a b, respectively, the lower front edge, 0, ofthe socket forming a dog, against which the ratchet-teeth d on the frontof the shank O of the verticallyadjustable or sliding jaw O engage,whereby said jaw O is held when applied to an object-- such as a nut,D-as shown in the drawings.

. Above the ratchet d the jaw-shank O is provided with a rib, f, to giveit increased strength, said shank C and rib f being set at right anglesto the head of the jaw O, which projects forward with its point flushwith the extremity of the lower jaw, B.

In the chamber b is fixed a spring, E, whose free end engages in one ofthe sockets, 9, formed in the back of the adj ustable jaw-shank O, tobring the said jaw (1 down upon the object D, to which the wrench isapplied. For

A the purpose of neutralizing the action of said spring E, so as to keepthe jaws of the wrench open for repeated removals and applications, whenturning a nut or other object, a wedge, F, is provided for holding saidjaws open, as

shown in Figs. 2 and 3. This wedge F is slotted, as shown at h, .to fitover the spring E and move freely up and down without interferingtherewith, and it is provided with lugs on at its upper and smaller end,by means of which it is pivoted to the end of a lever, G, that isfulcrnmed on a pin, a, which passes transversely through the chamber 1)in rear of the jaw-shank O. The handle of said lever G extends upwardthrough an orifice, 0, in the bend of the handle A of the wrench, andhas on its end a button, 19, upon which the operator holding the wrenchcan conveniently place his thumb, and thereby press the Wedge F againstthe back of the shank O, as shown in Fig. 2, and hold the jawO openagainst the tension of spring E.

In Figs. 5, 6, 7 is shown another modification of the device, wherein,instead of the wedge F and lever G, acted upon by the thumb forneutralizin g the action of the spring E, a bell-lever, H, is pivoted atits angle to the rib f of the jaw-shank 0, so that its upper arm shallswing horizontally upin a corresponding socket, 8, in the jaw C, whilethe other arm of said lever H is toothed on its front edge and projectsdownward along theshank O. A spring, I, connects the vertical toothedarm of said lever H with the shank G.

Whenan object to be wrenched is placed between thejaws B C it acts onthe lever H and forces the teeth thereof in contact with the dog t ofthe lower jaw, B, and thereby checks the further action ofthe spring Eon jaw-shank O. The spring I operates to release the lever H from thedog t as soon as said jaw-shank G is pressed out by the thumb, or aspring may be inserted to press the jaw-shank teeth against the dog 0,so as to completely make void the action of the spring E, and thejaw-shank becomes stationary whenever it is moved.

Ihis wrench is cheaply constructed, strong 5 and durable, and is easilyapplied to any work for which an ordinary monkey-wrenchis adapted; and,besides, it has the advantage over other wrenches that it can be used incorners and other narrow spaces. toHavingthusfullydescribedourinvention,we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent 1. As an improved article of manufacture, awrench constructed substantially as herein 15 shown and described,consisting of a chambered handle andjaw, A B c, in which moves aslidingjaw, 0, having a ratcheted shank, 0, provided with sockets gandrib f, said sliding jaw being operated by springE,slotted wedge 20 F,and lever G, as set forth.

2. In a wrench, the combination, with the chambered handle and jaw A Band adjustable jaw 0, provided with ratcheted shank 0, having sockets g,of the spring E, substantially as herein shown and described, whereby 25 said adjustable jaw is closed upon an object, as set forth.

3. In a wrench, the combination, with the chambered handle and jaw AB 0and adjustablejaw 0, having socket s, of the bell-lever H, 0 pivoted atits angle to rib f of shank O, and having toothed arm and spring I,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

CARL LUDWIG PRAEGER. HUBERT FRANCISCO PRAEGER. Witnesses as to signatureof Carl L. Praeger:

JOHN URIAN, SARAH DEGRATH.

Witnesses as to signature of Hubert F. Praeger:

JULIA MYERS, GEo. ZIEGENFUSS.

